Five mourning degrees of ancient Chinese funeral
Credit to: 端木策渊, translated by: RWS
丧礼作为五礼中的”凶礼“之一，《周礼·春官·大宗伯》记载：“以凶礼哀邦国之忧：以丧礼哀死亡...”，丧礼是哀悼死亡的礼仪，是凶礼中最核心的部分。
丧礼中的丧服制度，依据血缘亲疏分为斩衰、齐衰、大功、小功、缌麻五个等级，称为“五服”。
Funeral is one of the Five Rites of ancient Chinese, The mourning attire system in funeral rites is divided into five levels based on the closeness of blood relations (of course, for male-line relatives as the main): Zhan Cui, Qi Cui, Da Gong, Xiao Gong, and Si Ma, collectively known as the "Five Mourning Degree".
斩衰（p1）：丧期三年（实际27个月），最重的丧服。适用于子为父、未嫁之女为父、嫁后因故复从父居之女为父，嗣子为所嗣之父、承重孙为祖父，妻妾为夫，父为长子。明清时期，规定子（包括未嫁之女及嫁后复归之女）为母（包括嫡母、继母、生母）也服斩衰。
Zhan Cui (Unhemmed funeral hempen robes; p1), first degree: Three years period (27 months in actual), and the highest mourning clothes. This applies to sons and unmarried daughters to their fathers (including daughters who, after marriage, return to live with their fathers for various reasons); adopted sons/grandsons to adopted fathers/grandfathers; wives and concubines to husband; father s to their eldest son. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was stipulated that sons and daughters should also wear zhan cui to mourn their mothers (including step-mothers and father's primary wife)
齐衰（p2）：次于斩衰的第二等丧服，又分为四个等级：齐衰三年，齐衰杖期，齐衰不杖期，齐衰三月。
（1）齐衰三年：丧期三年（实际27 个月），适用于在父已先卒的情况下，子及未嫁之女、嫁后复归之女为母，母为长子；
（2）齐衰杖期：适用于父尚在世的情况下，子、未嫁之女、已嫁复归之女为母，夫为妻；
（3）齐衰不杖期：适用于为祖父母、伯叔父母、兄弟、未嫁之姐妹、长子以外的众子以及兄弟之子；
Zi Cui (hemmed hempen cloth; p2): Second degree, divided into four grades:
First: three years period (27 months in actual), applies to sons, unmarried daughters and returned daughters to their mothers if their fathers already passed away; mothers to their eldest sons
Second: applies to sons, unmarried daughters and returned daughters to their mothers if their fathers are still living; husbands to their wives
Third: applies to grandparents; uncle & aunts: brothers and unmarried sisters: younger sons; nephews
Four: three months period, applies to great-grandparents and great-grandparents
大功（p3）：丧期9个月，次于齐衰一等。适用于为从父兄弟（伯叔父之子，即堂兄弟），已嫁姑母、姊妹、女儿，未嫁之从父姊妹（伯叔父之女，即堂姊妹）及孙女，嫡长孙之外的众孙（包括未嫁的孙女），嫡长子之妻。
Da Gong (coarse hempen cloth; p3): Third degree, 9 months period; applies to first cousin-brothers; married paternal aunts and first cousin-sisters
and their further descendants, married; unmarried first cousin-sisters; wives of younger sons; unmarried first cousin-sisters; maternal grandparents; maternal aunts; younger grandsons & unmarried granddaughters; eldest daughtes-in-law
小功（p4）：丧期5个月，次于大功一等。适用于为从祖父母（父亲的伯叔父母），堂伯叔父母（父亲的堂兄弟及其配偶），从祖兄弟（父亲的堂兄弟之子），已嫁之从父姊妹及孙女，长子外的诸子之妻，未嫁之从祖姑姊妹（父亲的伯叔父之女及孙女），外祖父母、从母（姨母）。
Xiao Gong (fine hempen cloth; p4): Fourth degree, 5 months period; applies to grandfather's brothers and their wives and their further descendants, married; father's unmarried first cousin sisters; wives of younger sons; unmarried first cousin-sisters; maternal grandparents; maternal aunts
缌麻（p5）：丧期3个月，最轻的丧服。适用于为族曾祖父母（祖父的伯叔父母）、族祖父母（祖父的堂兄弟及其配偶）、族父母（祖父的堂兄弟之子及其配偶）、族兄弟（祖父的堂兄弟之孙），从祖兄弟之子，曾孙、玄孙，已嫁之从祖姑姊妹，长孙之外的诸孙之妻，姑祖母，姑表兄弟，舅表兄弟，姨表兄弟，岳父母，舅父、女婿、外甥、外孙。
Si Ma (thin fine hempen cloth; p5): Fifth and the lowest degree of the mourning, 3 months period; applies to grandfather's uncles and their wives; grandfather's cousin-brothers, included their sons and further descendants; married cousin-sisters; wives of younger grandsons; grandaunts; maternal cousins; parents-in-law; sons-in-law; maternal nephews & nieces; maternal grandchildren
